England 36-6 France: England progress to World Cup quarter-finals

By Ben Proe

Jermaine Mcgillvary scored twice as England prepared for next week's quarter-final with Papua New Guinea

Jermaine McGillvary scored twice as England produced their best display of the World Cup to cruise into the last eight, dismantling France by seven tries to one in a comfortable 36-6 victory.

Wayne Bennett's men exploded out of the blocks, scoring three times in the opening eight minutes. Fullback Gareth Widdop scored the opener, before Stefan Ratchford - selected on the wing - was followed over the line by James Graham, from a nice Luke Gale pass.

James Graham scored a rare four-pointer for England

The St George-Illawarra halfback added all three conversions to put England 18-0 up - and the favourites maintained their point-a-minute start when Mark Percival crossed on 22.

Two minutes short of the half-hour, John Bateman was too strong for Lucas Albert for England's fifth try - but a brief period of French resistance had yielded their opener within five minutes; Benjamin Garcia with a dummy and spin from close range, to put France within twenty at the interval.

Gareth Widdop excelled at full-back for England

A scrappy second period saw England extend their advantage inside sixty seconds, as Julian Bousquet's knock-on was punished by McGillvary - but it would be another twenty minutes before Sean O'Loughlin's side crossed again; video referee Bernard Sutton denying Lucas Albert's effort for a Benjamin Jullien forward pass, before the ruling Huddersfield wing had grounded the ball correctly for his second - despite a valiant defensive effort from Fouad Yaha.

England finish Pool A runners-up - and now progress to face Papua New Guinea in Melbourne next Sunday.